Sleep apnoea during pregnancy

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What is sleep apnoea?

Sleep apnoea happens when your breathing is interrupted during sleep. The condition's full name is obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). You have apnoea when your airflow is blocked for 10 seconds or more (NHS 2014). You may briefly stop breathing and then wake with a gasp, start, or snort repeatedly during the night (NHS 2014).

How common is sleep apnoea?

It's not that common in pregnancy. One study showed that about one in 1,000 pregnant women has sleep apnoea (Youssef et al 2010).

However, sleep apnoea is one of those conditions that's hard to pin down. About two per cent of women are thought to have sleep apnoea (NHS 2010).

How will I know if I have sleep apnoea?

It's hard for you to tell, because you're asleep! You may not remember being disturbed when you wake in the morning, but you may wonder why you don't feel refreshed from sleep (NHS 2014).

It's likely to be your husband who first notices that you're snoring and making snorting or gasping sounds in your sleep. Mention it to your doctor. If your sleep apnoea is more than mild, pregnancy-related sleep apnoea, you may be referred to an ear, nose and throat clinic. At the clinic a specialist can organise a sleep study to see how serious your sleep apnoea is.

If you are overweight, with a raised BMI of 30 or more, you are more likely to develop sleep apnoea (BAP 2010, NHS 2014).

It could be that pregnancy itself may disrupt your breathing patterns, particularly in the third trimester (BAP 2010, Youssef et al 2007). If you gain a lot of weight during pregnancy, it may affect your breathing while you're asleep. The extra weight around your neck and throat (BAP 2010, Izci et al 2006) works to narrow your airways.

You're more prone to snoring during pregnancy, and this can make sleep apnoea more likely. Snoring is caused by:

the extra hormones in your body, which make the lining of your nose swell (Bourjeily 2011)

the increased amount of blood in your body making the blood vessels in your nose expand

Can sleep apnoea harm me or my baby?

Sleep apnoea won't directly harm you or your baby, but it can mean your body is not working as efficiently as it could.

When you stop breathing for short spells, the amount of oxygen in your blood drops. Your heart must work harder than usual just to help you and your baby function normally. So, if you don't get help for sleep apnoea, in time it can take a toll on your health.

How is sleep apnoea treated?

You may be given a type of mouth guard to wear at night to keep your airway open. The guard helps to increase the space at the back of your throat. This in turn helps to keep your airway open.

If your sleep apnoea is severe, your doctor may suggest you wear a mask that gives you a steady flow of air while you sleep(NHS 2014, Youssef et al 2007). The mask is hooked up to a machine that provides continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Although it can be a nuisance to wear the mask, you may be amazed by how much better you feel during the day.

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